Do you remember the first time you were pregnant? Telling your friends your family? Realizing how much your life was going to change? Gaining weight or feeling sick or reveling in the radiant glow?
What about that first year or so of parenting? Sometimes pregnancy can be so difficult that it seems that actually taking care of the baby should be a breeze, but that’s rarely so. Kirsten Lobe tackles all of these topics in her memoir Paris, Baby!
That’s right — Paris. Not only is Kirsten having a baby, but she’s having a baby as an American in Paris. And did I mention that she’s 40 and single?
This is a delightful book — funny and candid. It will appeal to anyone who wants to relive her own first experiences with motherhood (or laugh as you give thanks that it’s NOT you), or anyone who ever lived far away from home and loved and hated aspects of another country.
Lobe practiced attachment parenting, which some people love and some people loathe, but she particularly felt unsupported in her choice in Paris, where most kids are raised by nannies or daycares.
Paris, Baby! has all the strengths (and a few pitfalls) of a memoir of this type — it’s really funny and clever, she brings us right into her world as an American living in Paris as she agonizes over the choices a mom has to make, and especially when she looks back on her carefree days as a single woman in Paris, the reader might feel a tad jealous. Here’s the pitfall of memoir, because in general a memoirist has to think highly enough of his or her self to devote an entire book to telling stories of his or her life. But honestly, Kirsten Lobe sidesteps this pretty well, because she’s so self-effacing and humorous. Even when I was rolling my eyes a little bit at the name-dropping, I was still smiling and laughing with her as she generally was lampooning herself. I couldn’t hate her. In fact, despite we are WAY more different than alike in our parenting choices, I felt as if she was the kind of person where we would have been friends in spite of those differences.
Though I’ve only spent a week in Paris in my life, Paris, Baby! made me miss it, to yearn for it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book — a sweet combination of travelogue, motherhood memoir, and tell-all — that is written with humor and sweetness and a detail that invites the reader to immerse herself into Kirsten’s life.
I’m happy to say that I have a SIGNED copy from the author to give away to one of you (U.S. shipping only). Just leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner in this column on May 30.
The winner of Daily Guideposts for Your First Year of Motherhood is #20 Tory.
Written by 5 Minutes for Books managing editor Jennifer Donovan. Jennifer also blogs at Snapshot.
Would enjoy reading.
I love travel stories! This sounds like a book for me.
I’d love to win this!
Sounds fun! Please enter me.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Sounds like a great summer read 🙂
I have heard so much about this book, I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the contest.
I’d love to win a copy of this book. Sounds like a fun read.
Sounds like a great read! I’d love to win. Thanks. 🙂
I was 32 when I had my last child, no man, and 3 other children. I felt alone but he is now 28 and was so glad I had him. I was love to read this book.
I seriously need a little humor and fun right now. Sigh….
Love to win this book! Sounds like an entertaining read!
wow- 40 and single in paris- thats a dream, but pregnant too? Would love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’d love to read this book, which seems to be filled with life experience and humor!
I’d love to read this! My cousin is living in France, raising her family there, and I’m sure this would give us a lot to talk about / think about / laugh about.
This sounds like so much fun – such a great way to escape MY life! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like a great read…thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
I’d love to win. Thanks for the chance.
This looks like a great read. Thanks for the chance
Would like to read that book
We’re currently expecting #2, so this sounds like it would make for a great read this summer!
life is full of memories I would love to win this book
shopannies@yahoo.com
Sounds funny and sweet. And my best friends are simply gaga over Paris.
This sounds like a great read. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Sounds like a great book! I love memoirs. 🙂
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Attachment parenting I know a lot about. But Paris? I know nothing! I would love to read all about it, especially from the perspective of a new mom. sounds delightful!
Oh I would love to win this! Looks like a fun read!
This sounds like a great book. I read another memoir of an ex-pat (albeit from Australia) living in Paris called “Almost French” and truly enjoyed the insight from an insider. I’m sure this would be every bit as enjoyable!
I would love to give this to my sister in law. She is having her third child and has had a family crisis when her husband lost his job. She could use a laugh for sure.
I would love to give this book to my daughter. She is expecting her third child in December and she could use some humor!
I would love to read this book. Anybody that can relate to me right now is my friend!
Sounds like a great read!
I’d love to win!
This looks like a great read, both about humor and pregnacny-both of which I am eager to read/experience!
I love humor so this book fits the bill.
I would love to read this book experience motherhood from another person’s perspective.
Sounds like a fun read that I’d love!
This sounds like a fun read!
Sounds like a fun book!
I’d love to read this book, sounds like a good summer read.
Looks like a great book! Would love to read it!
Looks like a good book!
This sounds like a lot of fun, I would love to read it.
I have been wait for what feels like forever for this new book to come out!!!cant wait to read this!!!!!